Piano action



H. B. RHODES Sept. 6, 1966 PIANO ACTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Sept. 24, 1962 INVENTOR.

w p w e 5 w w m m- 6, 1966 H. B. RHODES 3,270,608

PIANO ACTION Original Filed Sept. 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

H. B. RHODES Sept. 6, 1966 PIANO ACTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Sept. 24, 1962 H. B. RHODES Sept. 6, 1966 PIANO ACTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Sept. 24, 1962 U ww United States Patent 3,270,608 PIANO ACTION Harold B. Rhodes, Anaheim, Calif, assignor of one-half to R. H. Osbrink Continuation of application Ser. No. 225,917, Sept. 24, 1962. This application Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 506,431 35 Claims. (Cl. 84-237) This application is a continuation of my co-pending patent application Serial No. 225,917, filed September 24, 1962, which application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Serial No. 1,631, filed January 11, 1960, for a Piano Action, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a piano action. Prior-art reference is hereby made to my previous patents numbered 2,456,321 and 2,469,667, and to references cited during prosecution thereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide a musically-excellent piano action which is highly simple, and which may be mass-manufactured for an extremely low cost.

Another object is to provide a piano action which is not subject to double striking or stroking, that is to say, the production of more than one note in response to a single depression of the piano key.

Another object is to provide a piano action which may be readily constructed and adjusted to produce the difierent touch sensations desired by different pianists.

A further object is to provide a piano action which requires little or no adjustment during and subsequent to manufacture.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following specification and claims, considered in connection with the attached drawings to which they relate.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating an electrical piano incorporating a piano action constructed in accordance with the present invention, the action being shown at the rest position prior to striking of the key;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the hammer element and associated key portion in the same positions shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a View corresponding to FIGURE 2 but illustrating the positions of the parts at the instant that the hammer engages the tine or reed subsequent to striking of the key;

FIGURE 4 is a view corresponding to FIGURES 2 and 3 but illustrating the positions of the parts after the hammer has struck the tine and rebounded to a desired escapement station in spaced relationship from the tine, the key being illustrated in its position maintained when the pianist continues to press down or hold the key;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating the damper portion of the action;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view corresponding generally to FIGURE 1 but illustrating a second embodiment of the invention, the parts being shown in the rest positions;

FIGURE 8 corresponds to FIGURE 7 but shows the positions of the components at the instant the hammer strikes the tine; and

FIGURE 9 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary elevational view illustrating the hammer portion of FIGURE 7, and certain closely associated components, in an intermediate position,

Referring first to the embodiment of FIGURES 16, the action is illustrated as incorporated in an electric piano of the type described and claimed in my Patent 3,276,508 Patented Sept. 6, 1966 2,972,922, issued February 28, 1961, for an Electrical Musical Instrument in the Nature of a Piano. Such an instrument incorporates a vibrating time 10, and electromagnetic pickup means 11 to sense the vibrations of the time and transduce such vibrations into electric currents which are amplified and converted into sound in ramplifier and loudspeaker means 12. Tine 10 is mounted, in fixed-free relationship, on an inertia bar 13 which is described in detail in the above-cited patent. It is to be understood that the present action may also be incorporated in conventional acoustic pianos, and in any piano type musical instrument wherein an object is struck by a hammer.

The illustrated piano-type instrument incorporates various fixed supports 14-17 which may be of any suitable construction and are conventionally formed of wood. Although only one piano action (and tine 10, etc.) has been illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood that one is provided for each key of the piano. It is further to be understood that the hammer element may be modified so that it will strike a tine 10 or strings which are vertical instead of horizontal.

The piano action comprises generally a key means 18, a hammer means 19, and a damper or dampening means 20, all related to each other and to the fixed supports as will be described in detail subsequently. Proceeding first to a description of key means 18, this comprises an elongated, generally horizontal element having a forward portion 21 adapted to be struck by the pianist, a piece of simulated ivory being indicated at 22. The forward portion 21 is recessed to receive a guide pin 23 anchored in fixed support 14. The midportion of the key means is pivoted at fulcrum pin 24, there being a conventional fulcrum washer 26 suitably supported beneath the key means on fixed support 14. The rear 'or actuating and brake portion of the key means is designated 27 and has a plane, generally horizontal upper surface which may be substantially parallel with the ivory 22. A strip of felt or other suitable braking and sound-deadening material, indicated at 28, is adhesively or otherwise fixedly secured on the above-indicated upper plane surface of actuating and brake portion 27.

A stop strip 29, which may be formed of felt and is fixedly mounted on support 14 beneath actuating and brake portion 27 of the key, limits the downward pivotal movement of such portion. Upward pivotal movement of the key portion 27 is limited by the hammer means 19 next to be described. However, in order to provide an emergency or secondary stop for the key means, to prevent breaking thereof in the event excessive downward pressure is applied to forward portion 21, a felt washer 31 is mounted around guide pin 23 on support 14. It is emphasized that the washer 31 is sufliciently thin that it seldom comes into operation, and then only after stop means incorporated in hammer means 19 has been engaged.

The hammer means 19 comprises a head 32, a shank 33, and a foot portion 34. The foot portion 34 serves as a cam (or actuated means), as a stop and as a brake, as will be described hereinafter. The head 32 may be of any suitable construction, and has a felt 36 adhesively secured thereon for engagement with time 10. Shank 33 is illustrated as a wood dowel fixedly secured to the head and to foot portion 34. Foot portion 34 is illustrated as being an elongated wooden element disposed in general alignment with shank 33, and pivoted at 37 for pivotal movement about a fixed horizontal axis.

The pivot connection 37 is between foot portion 34 and a fixed support, and comprises a pin inserted horizontally through the rounded and recessed rear end of foot portion 34. The extending ends of the pin are seated rotatably in felt bushings 38 which, in turn, are fitted into Openings in the arms 39 of a bifurcated support member 41. Arms 39 fit adjacent opposite sides of the above-indicated recessed end portion of the foot 34. Support member 41 is secured, by means of a vertical screw 42, to a fixed support mem 'ber 43. Support 43 is, in turn, fixedly secured to the previously-indicated support 15.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 2-4, inclusive, the letters A and B are employed to denote points which divide the lower surface of foot portion 34 of the hammer means 19 into three regions. The region of the foot portion 34 to the right of point A may be, as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2, in surface engagement with felt 28 when the mechanism is at rest. This portion therefore cooperates with key portion 27 and stop strip 29 (FIGURE 1) to determine the maximum distance through which hammer means 19 can pivot clockwise about pivot 37. It is pointed outthat even when the region to the right of point A is thus engaged with felt 28, the shank 33 and head 32 are out of engagement with the key, the latter being suitably recessed to prevent such engagement from occurring at any time. 7

The region of foot 34 between points A and B is designated 34a, and is a cam or actuated surface. Such cam surface creates the desired initial upward movement of hammer means 19 upon striking of the forward portion 21 of the key. The engagement between felt 28 and surface 34a is both sliding and rolling, and occurs not only at the high point of the cam surface but on both sides thereof.

The region of foot 34 to the left of point B is designated 34b, and comprises both a stop surface and a brake surface. Furthermore, port-ions of surface region 34b, relatively adjacent point B, operate as an extension of the cam means 34a. Surface region 3417 is tangential to the cam curve AB (region 34a), at point B. As will be described relative to the embodiment of FIGURES 7-9, surface region 3412 is preferably a tangent c-urve instead of a tangent plane.

The portion 34b of foot 34 (to the left of point B) is a stop surface since it, in combination with the fixed pivot pin 37, limits the upward travel of key portion 27 As was stated above, the felt 31 (FIGURE 1) is sutficiently thin that it is not forcibly engaged by the undersurface of key portion 21 until after felt 28 is stopped by the portion of foot 34 to the left of point B, so that felt 31 acts only as an emergency stop to prevent breaking of the instrument. Thus, surface 34b is the primary and normallyoperative means for limiting rotation of the key upon striking thereof.

The portion 34b of foot 34 (to the left of point B);is a brake surface because, particularly when the key is held down by the pianist, the felt 28 creates a braking action relative to such portion 34b. The brake means (28 and 34b) operate as a frictional back-check which prevents the hammer head 32 from rebounding upwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 4 to reengage tine and thus produce a double or repeated note (double stroking) for a single striking of the piano key.

The parts are so related that when surface 34b (to the left of point B) is in generally flatwise engagement with felt 28, while the key 21 is held down and, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, felt 36 is spaced a predetermined small distance (such as /8 or 4 inch) from tine 10. Such distance is known as the escapement distance and is designated E.D. Thus, the backcheck means or mechanism not only prevents double stroking, but also creates the indicated escapement distance E.D.

The region 34b of foot 34 (to the left of point B) is sufiiciently long that, even when head 32 is in its uppermost position as shown in FIGURE 3, a Perpendicular to felt 28 and passing through pivot 37 will intersect such region 34b. Because of this fact, and because of the shape of region 34b, even forcible downward pressing on the key will not, when the hammer is in the positions shown in FIGURES 3 or 4 or in any position therebetween, tend to eflfect upward pivoting of the hammer. Instead of the key effecting upward pivoting of the hammer at such times, the foot port-ion of the hammer prevents upward pivoting of the key. If the region to the left B were substantially shorter than is illustrated, or were differently shaped as in my prior Patent 2,469,667, continued pressing on the key would result in a torque tending to hold the felt 36 against the tine, and to effect upward pivotal key movement to positions above those shown in FIGURES 3 and 4.

When the parts are in the positions of FIGURE 4, striking of the tine cannot be repeated until the pianist releases his finger and permits the hammer to pivot downwardly until at least a substantial part of actuated surface A-B engages felt 28.

The cam region A-B (surface 34a) cooperates with felt 28 in a combination rocking and sliding action, as stated above. The region to the left of B slides on felt 28 (upon downward hammer pivot-ing from the FIGURE 3 position to the FIGURE 4 position) to produce the above-indicated brake or back-check effect and as previously indicated. The amount of such sliding (back-check) action is determined by the length of the radius arm between pivot 37 and the region 34b, such radius arm being a perpendicular to such region.

As will be set forth in detail subsequently relative to FIGURES '79, the above-described brake and stop action effected by region 3411 (to the left of B) takes place primarily at the extreme rear end portion of such region, relatively remote from point B.

Operation of key means 18 and hammer means 19 relative to tine 10 or the like There will next be described in detail the operation of hammer means 19 relative to key means 18. Assuming that the parts are initially in the rest position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, striking of the forward key portion '21 by the pianist efiects clockwise pivotal movement of key 18 about fulcrum pad 26 and consequent counterclockwise pivotal movement of hammer means 19 about fixed pivot 37. The initial part of such pivotal movement takes place with a relatively high mechanical advantage, since the felt 28 is in operative engagement with the cam region A'B (denoted 34a) near point A. Such portion near A is relatively remote from pivot 37, making it relatively easy to effect starting of the hammer on its upward path. As the upward speed of the hammer increases, it would be progressively easier to actuate the key if the felt 28 remained in engagement with the same portion of the hammer. This is analogous to the progressively decreasing force required to push an automobile on a level surface. However, since upward movement of key portion 27 and felt 28 thereon effects a progressive and predetermined reduction in the radius arm between pivot 37 and the portion of cam A-B (denoted 34a) engaged by felt 28, a greater and greater resistance is presented to upward movement of key portion 27. This is analogous to the force required to push an automobile up an incline which becomes progressively steeper.

The shape of the underside of element 34 is such as to prevent it from flying upwardly, completely out of contact with felt 28, so that control of the hammer is lost. It is thus impossible for the key and hammer to become out-of-phase with each other, regardless of the frequency or timing of the repetitive striking of the key. by the finger of the pianist. The action is therefore fast and true.

After the FIGURE 4 position is reached, during upstroke of the hammer when the pianist is in the act of striking the key portion 21, the region of hammer foot 34 to the left of point B (denoted 34b) does not remain in generally fiatwise engagement with felt 28 but instead tilts or inclines slightly to the position shown in FIGURE 3. Such tilting is so fast and slight as to be imperceptible to the eye of the observer. It does not cause the hammer to move sufficiently to be out of the direct control of the piano key.

As indicated above, the momentum imparted to hammer 19 due to striking of key portion 21 by the pianist causes the hammer to tilt from the FIGURE 4 position to the FIGURE 3 position and strike the tine as is desired. The felt 28 then presents relatively little frictional resistance to such upward striking motion of the hammer, since the hammer is at this time moving faster than the key portion 27. In other words, there is then only a light contact between the felt 28 and the foot portion 34 since such portion 34 is tending to move away from the felt 28.

There will now be considered the condition which occurs when the pianist maintains the key portion 21 depressed. Such continued depression of the key causes the felt 28 to become fixed in position. Especially since felt 28 is fixed in position, it acts as a brake shoe to provide a braking action relative to the region 34b of foot 34 (to the left of point B). The result is the previouslyindicated frictional back-check which causes the hammer 19 to drop to the escapement position shown in FIGURE 4 without bouncing upwardly toward the tine 10. The back-check does not require adjustment, and is highly effective in its operation.

There will next be considered the condition which occurs when the pianist does not maintain key portion 21 depressed but instead strikes it rapidly and repeatedly, as during rapid staccato playing. The felt 28 is, under such circumstances, not fixed in spaced but instead is constantly moving. Accordingly, it does not provide a substantial brake shoe action relative to the foot region to the left of point B, and does not impede the staccato action. It is pointed out that, although the felt 28 does not act excessively as a brake for the hammer during rapid staccato playing, the hammer region to the left of point B (denoted 34b) acts as a stop to the key.

The above-described operation is to be contrasted with the operation which would occur if the key 18 were stopped (against clockwise movement) by the washer 31, the undersurface of fixed support 4'3, etc., instead of by the foot portion to the left of point B acting in cooperation with pivot 37 and fixed element 41, etc. Such an arrangement is described in my previous Patent 2,469,667, and is operative (when everything is in perfect adjustment) relative to the stiff tines or sounding bars of toy pianos and the like. However, it has been found that variations in such things as the precise location of pivot 37, the thickness of key portion 27, the thickness and age of felt 28, etc., produce variations in the instant at which the cam portion of the hammer means moves upwardly from the FIGURE 4 position to the FIGURE 3 position. Such variations require that the toy piano be manufactured and maintained in proper adjustment in order to prevent occurrence of intolerable situations such as double striking of the tine 10 for each downward movement of key portion 21. According to the present invention, on the other hand, there can be no variation between the position of cam surface A-B (denoted 341;) relative to the tangent surface 34b to the left of point B, since these surfaces are accurately formed on jigged machines during manufacture of feet 34. Slight variations in the position of pivot 37,'the thickness and age of felt 28, etc., accordingly produce no undesirable effects and cannot result in double striking of tine '10 for a single striking of the piano key, even when tine 10 is very resilient, or is replaced by a piano string.

The action described in my prior Patent 2,469,667 was inoperative, even when everything was new and perfectly adjusted, relative to highly resilient tone generators such as the base tine or reed shown in FIGURE 6 of Patent 2,972,922. The resilience of such generators is such as to make worse the rebound action, thereby causing two or even three hammer blows to result from a single str-iking of the key. The present action, on the other hand, never results in double-strikingeven when such highly resilient members are being actuated.

For the above and other reasons to be described suba musical standpoint.

Description of damper means 20 The damper or dampening means 20, as shown in FIG- URES 5 and 6, comprises an elongated flat strip formed of spring metal. The rear end of spring strip 45 is, as shown at the left in FIGURE 5, formed with a depressed or curved portion 46 which is inserted into a groove 47 provided in the undersurface of a mounting block 48. The mounting block is secured, as by screws 49, to the beveled edge portion 51 of fixed support 43. The depth and width of groove 47 are such that spring 46 may not be inserted therein unless considerable manual force is employed, so that the spring will remain fixedly in position after being inserted.

Mounted at the forward end portion of spring strip 45 is a sheet-metal channel member 52 the upwardly-extending flanges of which have inwardly-turned edge portions 53 adapted to maintain in position a block 54 of felt. The web of the channel member 52 is slit at two spaced points transversely of spring 45, and the web portion 56 between the slits is depressed in order that the spring 45 may be inserted through both slits to frictionally hold the channel member 52 in position. In this manner, the channel member and thus felt 54 may be readily mounted at any desired position on spring 45.

The upper edge portion of the felt block 54 is suitably recessed or channeled for engagement with tine 10 as indicated in FIGURES 5 and 6. The position of spring 45 is such that the felt 54 is spring-pressed against the tine, with sufficient force to stop vibrations thereof, at all times except when the spring is pulled downwardly by means next to be described.

The means for actuating spring strip 45 downwardly, as hammer means 19 pivots upwardly, comprises a strap 57 having an opening at its upper end through which spring 45 is inserted, and having its lower end adhesively or otherwise secured to the rounded rear end 58 of foot portion 34 of the hammer means. The surface of end 58 is generally concentric with pivot pin 37, so that upward pivotal movement of the hammer :means causes the lower end of the strap to wrap around end 58, in the manner of a rope on a winch, to pull the spring 45 downwardly and out of contact with tine 10.

An adjustable stop member 59, comprising a flexible plastic tube having a diameter (when undeformed) less than the Width of spring strip 45, is mounted on the strip 45 between the upper end of strap 57 and mounting block 48. Stop 59 may be manually shifted to any desired position on strip 45 in order to adjust the amount of downward bending of the spring strip caused by upward pivotal movement of the hammer means 19 until tine 10 is engaged. The bending of spring strip 45 due to longitudinal shifting of stop 59 is illustrated in solid and dashed lines in FIGURE 5.

Description of manner of assembly, and brief summary of operation In the assembly of the piano action, the entire key 18 is formed as a first subassembly and is then mounted on the guide pin 23, fulcrum pin 24 and felt strip 29. The hammer 19, support member 41, strap 57, spring 45, adjustable stop 59, channel 52 and felt 54 are formed as a second subassembly. Such second subassembly is mounted on the previously-assembled supports 43 and 48 by means of the single screw 42 and by manually inserting the depressed spring portion 46 into groove 47 as shown in FIGURE 5. It is then a simple matter to adjust the stop 59 to determine the precise spacing be- 7 tween felt 54 and tine when the hammer is in the position shown in FIGURE 4.

As described above in detail, striking of the forward portion 21 of key means 18 causes clockwise movement of the key and consequent counterclockwise movement of the hammer 19 about pivot 37. Such hammer movement is caused by engagement of felt 28 with the cam portion A-B (denoted 34a), and continues until the hammer is pivoted upwardly from the FIGURE 2 position to the FIGURE 4 position. Thereafter, the hammer tilts slightly upwardly, from the FIGURE 4 position to the FIG- URE 3 position, and effects vibration of tine 10. If the piano key is maintained depressed by the pianist, the hammer means 19 drops back to the FIGURE 4 position due to its weight and also due to the bias of spring 45 exerted through strap 57. A braking action is then effected between felt 28 and the portion of hammer foot 34 to the left of point B (denoted 34b), which causes the hammer to remain in the FIGURE 4 position instead of rebounding against the tine 10.

As described above in detail, the portion of foot 34 beneath pivot 37 acts as a stop to limit the upward movement of key portion 27. This stops key movement before operation of the emergency stop indicated at 31 in FIGURE 1. Each time the hammer moves upwardly, the strap 57 effects downward movement of spring 45 and felt 54, so that a sustained note is generated until the key is released to permit the hammer to drop back to the FIGURE 2 position. Sustaining pedal means, not shown, may be provided to effect downward movement of the springs 45 of all of the actions in the instrument.

Embodiment of FIGURES 79 The embodiment of FIGURES 79 is identical to that of FIGURES 1-6 except as will be specifically indicated. Elements in FIGURES 79 which correspond to those of FIGURES l-6 have been given the same reference numerals, except that the letter a has been added in many instances. 2

Referring to FIGURES 7 and 8, it will be noted that: (1) the damper spring 2011 is relatively stiff and rigid except at a thin, resilient region 61 adjacent base 43a, and (2) the plastic tube 59 is replaced by a bent helical spring 62. The reason for making the spring 20a stiff for the majority of its length is to prevent excessive sympathetic vibration thereof. The bent spring 62 may correspond to the tuning spring 92 which is movably mounted on the tine 10a to adjust the pitch thereof.

For reasons to be indicated subsequently relative to the shape of the felt on the hammer head, the indicated tone generator is one which is adapted to generate a bass note, much lower in pitch than the note generated by the particular tone generator shown in FIGURE 1. Such bass generator has a large inertia bar 13m which is cantilevered, the base being suspended in a mass 91 of rubber. A relatively long tine or reed 10a is fixed in the inertia bar, having the bent tuning spring 92 adjustably mounted thereon. The described mounting of bar 13a in rubber is merely illustrative of many conventional ways for mounting a tuning fork.

The remaining elements in the present embodiment, other than the key and hammer, will not be specifically described since they correspond generally to previously described elements.

The key means 18a is generally similar to that shown in FIGURE 1 except that the entire key is raised to a substantially higher elevation. The actuating and brake portion 27a of the key means 18a is formed with a flat upper surface 63 (FIGURE 9) which extends beneath the entire hammer, there being no raised portion at the extreme inner end of the key. Furthermore, the felt 28 is omitted, being replaced by a hardwood strip or insert 64 formed, for example, of maple. The upper surface of such strip 64 is smooth and may be polished, waxed or plastic coated. Thus, in the present embodiment, the felt is mounted on the underside of the foot of the hammer, instead of on the key.

Referring to FIGURE 7, the elements are shown in their rest positions as in FIGURE 1. When in such positions, the hammer is more nearly horizontal than was the case relative to the embodiment of FIGURE 1, the hardwood strip engaging the portion of the hammer foot which corresponds generally to region 34a (FIG- URES 24) relatively adjacent point A, instead of engaging the region which corresponds to the portion of foot 34 (FIGURES 2-4) to the right of point A. Thus, there is less hammer throw than in the previously-described embodiment.

FIGURE 8 illustrates the positions of the components at the instant the hammer strikes the tine 10a, corresponding generally to FIGURE 3. It will be noted that at this time the outer or forward key end 21 is not in en gagement with the underlying emergency stop element 31 which, as previously indicated, performs only the function of preventing breaking of the instrument. The primary stopping action is present between the extreme inner end of hardwood insert 64 and the adjacent hammer portion (backed up by the fixed pivot element 37).

As was discussed relative to the previous embodiment, the present action is to be contrasted with the apparatus described in my prior Patent 2,469,667, wherein the undersurface of element 28 operated as the only stop for the piano key. Upon engagement of the pad 23 (described in such patent) with the underside of element 28, contact was lost between pad 23 and the edge or surface 43. During this instant of lost contact, the hammer swung free until it struck the tine and then bounced back to re-engage the key. In such arrangement, it was literally impossible to control the tendency to bounce or doublestroke.

As described at various portions of the present specification, the present piano action is so constructed that contact between the key and the hammer means is never lost. Stated otherwise, control of the hammer by the key (and thus by the pianist) is guaranteed at all times. One of the several important advantages thus achieved is that a rebound sensation is never felt by the finger of {the pianist. With the action described in my prior Patent 2,469,667, wherein the hammer pivoted free of the key (column 1 of said patent, starting at line 17), the pianist would strike the key and immediately receive the undesirable sensation of rebound. In the present action, on the other hand, there can be no rebound sensation since the hammer means is never out of contact with the key, and since the brake or frictional back-check action assures that the hammer will stop relatively slowly in its escapement position (shown in FIGURE 4, prev ious embodiment).

If the key of the present piano action is held down by the pianist, the hammer head moves away from the tine a predetermined escapement distance, as previously indicated at E.D. in FIGURE 4. Upon release of the key by the pianist, the key pivots counterclockwise until it engages the stop element 29a as previously described. It is to be noted that the key will pivot counterclockwise, following release by the pianist, despite the fact that the outer portion 21 of the key is both longer and much heavier than the inner portion 27a thereof. This is because of the weight and lever action causing the hamr6ner means to act against the upper surface 63 of inser Description and theory relative to the specific hammer means, embodiment of FIGURES 79 The hammer shown in enlarged form in FIGURE 9 has a head 3201, a felt 36a, a shank 33a and a foot portion 34a. The foot portion 34a is pivotally mounted, by means of the pivot pin 37, to the support element 41 or equivalent support means, and is also associated with a strap 57a as described relative to the previous embodi- 9 ment or in any suitable manner. It is emphasized that the fixed pin or axis 37 is in the path of pivotal movement of key portion 27a, so that it may back up the adjacent hammer portion in stopping pivotal movement of the key.

The undersurface of the foot portion 34a of the present embodiment is illustrated (FIGURE 9) as being covered with a felt strip 66- which cooperates with the upper surface 63 of hardwood insert 64. It is to be understood, however, that the felt may be applied to the upper surface 63 as in the previous embodiment, the undersurface of foot 34a then being polished hardwood. Furthermore, in some instances, felt may be omitted entirely.

The under or operating surface of foot portion 34a may be divided into four regions, those lying between or adjacent the points designated A, B, C and D. The region of the hammer foot to the right of point A is designated 67 and is so shaped that it will not interfere with the action of the other portions of the hammer foot. This portion is made relatively flat so that it may come into flatwise engagement with the upper key surface 63 when an action is created which has a relatively light touch, similarly to the case relative to the portion of hammer foot 34 (FIGURES 24) to the right of point A.

The region of hammer foot 34a between points A and B is designated 68 and is, for reasons to be described subsequently, preferably a relatively steep, downwardlyconvex curve. The region between points B and C is designated 69, being a relatively flat curve which is tangential to curve 68 at point B. The region between points C and D is designated 70. Such region 70 is highly critical and is tangential (an inside tangent curve, as will be stated below) to region 69 at point C. For reasons to be discussed subsequently, region 70' is preferably a curve having a relatively short radius in comparison to the radius of surface 69 (although the radius of region 70 is at least as long as the distance between axis 37 and region 70).

The functions of the various regions 6840 may best be understood by considering the sequence of events following striking of a key which is initially at the rest position shown in FIGURE 7 (not the intermediate position shown in FIGURE 9). Assuming that the initial point of contact between felt 66 and surface 63 is at region 68, adjacent point A, there is a substantial initial resistance to pivoting of the hammer. Such substantial resistance is caused by a number of factors including the relatively short distance (in comparison to the previous embodiment) between point A and pivot 37, and the relatively steep or sharp curvature of the downwardlycovex cam curve 68. Thus, the instrument is caused to have a relatively heavy touch since this is the type of touch to which pianists throughout the world are accustomed in fine pianos, although such a touch may not be the theoretical ideal.

It will be understood that, if the initial point of contact between felt 66 and surface 63 were at region 67, as in the previous embodiment, the radius arm to pivot 37 would be much longer. Since there would be a much longer lever arm and thus a greatly higher mechanical advantage, the touch felt by the pianist would be lighter. Also, if the curve 68 were much less shanp, the touch sensation would be lighter. As will be described subsequently, the touch of the present instrument may be adjusted by merely changing the initial relationship between key and hammer, for example to the different relationship shown in FIGURES 2 and 7 and to various intermediate relationships.

[After the hammer has been started on its upward movement by the rolling and sliding contact between the upper surface 63 and cam region 68 (between points A and B), the large-radius tangent curve 69 is engaged by surface 6 3. Such curve 69 is so shaped as to insure that contact between sunface 63 and felt 66 is maintained at all times, so that control of the hammer by the key is never lost. Furthermore, as the surface 63 engages portions of region 69 progressively closer and closer to point C, upward pivotal movement of the hammer is continued with a progressively smaller mechanical advantage. This is due to the fact that the distance between pivot element 37 and the are-a where surface 63 engages region 69 becomes progressively smaller. Thus, it is pointed out that during the entire time surface 63 engages felt 66 between point A and point C, the radius arm to pivot 37 is decreasing so that the mechanical advantage is also decreasing.

The function of the remaining region, number 70, may best be understood by considering what would occur if no such region were present, or if region 70 were differently shaped. If there were no region 70, or if region 70 cur-led in a manner similar to the condition in my previous Patent 2,469,667, there would be no braking (or back-check) action whatsoever. Instead, the hammer foot 34a would fly upwardly out of control by the key portion 27a to result frequently in the undesired double striking or double stroking action previously described. Furthermore, there would be no key-stopping action since continuous downward pressing on the key would force the hammer felt 36a into engagement with the tine and would in fact deflect the tine upwardly and maintain it there. This is the situation in my prior Patent 2,469,667, since upon removal of the stop element 28 (in such patent) downward pressing against the key causes the hammer 41 to engage the elements 38, lift such elements and maintain them in lifted condition.

There will next be considered the situation which would occur if region 70 were a perfect are about center 37, having a radius indicated at S. In such condition, a braking action would occur but there would be no predetenmined escapement distance. Stated otherwise, the escapement distance would be indeterminate and perhaps nonexistent, depending upon the particular relationships involved. It is to be remembered that the escapement distance is the distance between the felt 36a and the tine when the key is maintained depressed, as is indicated at BB. in FIGURE 4.

There will next be considered the condition which would occur if the region 70 were a plane which is t-angential to curve 69 at point C. Such a plane creates a positive escapement distance but results in braking action normally regarded as less than optimum.

The optimum condition occurs when region 70 is a downwardly con-vex curve which is an inside tangent to curve 6 9 at point C, the radius of curve 70 being substantially longer (preferably sever-a1 times longer) than the distance between curve 70 and pivot 37. Stated otherwise, curve 70 is an outside tangent, at point C, to an imaginary cincle having 37 as its center and a line from 37 to C as its radius. Furthermore, such imaginary circle, and the circle of which curve 70 is an arc, and the circle of which curve 69 is an are, are all tangent at point C, having centers lying at spaced points along the same line (such as the indicated line 78).

With such a configuration of region 70, the desired braking and stop action are achieved, and it is assured that the desired escapement distance (such as distance E.D., FIGURE 4) will result. It is to be noted that since the radius of region 70 is substantially longer than the distance therefrom to pivot 37, the transition between decreasing radius and increasing radius occurs at point C. Thus, as the key portion 27a moves upwardly upon striking of the key portion 21, braking commences the instant the upper key surface 63 engages point C. However, as mentioned relative to the previous embodiment, such braking is not as strong as that which occurs during rebound when the key is held in depressed position (to simulate a brake shoe fixed in space).

In its broader aspects, the present invention comprehends the conditions stated in the preceding four paragraphs, both the optimum condition and those less than optimum. One way of defining all three of such conditions is to state that the straight-line distance from pivot 37 to point D, along the indicated line S, is at least equal to and is preferably substantially greater than the straightline distance from 37 to C. Another definition is that pointD should lie in a region between the above-defined imaginary circle (having 37 as its center, and 37-C as its radius) and a straight-line tangent to curve 69 at point C. All of these definitions presuppose that surface 63 is plane, it being understood that curving of portions of surface 63 may permit changes in the shape of region 70.

It is to be noted that the fulcrum or pivot axis for key 18a'is generally parallel to pivot axis 37 for the hammer. Also, it is pointed out that the region 70 and the portion of surface 63 which engages the same may be termed cooperating surface regions. Correspondingly, region 69 and the portion of surface 63 which engages it may be termed cooperating surface regions. The same terminology may be applied to region 68 and the cooperating portion of surface 63. 7

Method and apparatus for adjusting the touch sensation felt by the pianist It will be understood that the lightness or heaviness of the touch will depend upon numerous factors such as the lengths of the piano key portions on opposite sides of fulcrum 26, the length of shank 33a, the Weight of hammer head 32a, as well as the configuration of the underside of hammer foot portion 34a as described above in detail. Thus, for example, the hammer head may be provided with a small lead weight 72 to increase the weight thereof. An important advantage of the present piano action is that the same hammer means and cooperating components may be employed in actions producing different touch sensations, either relatively light or relatively heavy. Thus, for example, if one desires a piano having a relatively light touch, the fulcrum washer 26 and the stop felt 29a are made relatively thin, so that the hammer is initially (when at rest) pivoted downwardly to a position corresponding generally to that shown in FIGURES l and 2. The initial radius between pivot axis 37 and the point where surface 63 engages surface 67 (FIG- URES 79) is then relatively long, so that there is a high mechanical advantage. It follows that it is relatively easy to set the hammer in motion, the touch sensation then being light.

To produce a piano having a relatively heavy touch, it is merely necessary to thicken the washer 26 and felt 29a to thereby elevate the initial hammer position, for example as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8. The initial radius from the contact region to fulcrum or pivot axis 37 is then relatively short, there being a low mechanical advantage and consequently a heavy touch sensation.

Apparatus and method for damping the higher harmonics in tine-type piano instruments As is conventional in piano actions. the felts on the hammers associated with the lower-pitched notes are relatively large, whereas those on hammers associated with the higher-pitched notes are relatively small. Thus, the ie'lts are made progressively shorter (in comparison to the felt 36a shown in FIGURES 7-9) for notes having pitches which are progressively higher.

An important feature of the present invention is that the felts 36a in actions associated with base tone generators such as are shown in FIGURE 6 of my Patent 2,972,922, and designated at the beginning of the table in column 8 thereof, strike the tine a in a predetermined and critical manner. Thus, each felt 36a ha an upper surface 73 which is generally parallel to tine 10a at the instant of striking (FIGURE 8) but is not perfectly parallel thereto. The relationship is such that the end 74 which is relatively remote from the base or fixed end of the tine 10a makes initial contact therewith. The

portion of the hammer felt adjacent point 74 is then (FIGURE 8 position) at an angle relative to tine 10a which is only a few degrees, for example three. For purposes of illustration, the drawing shows the angle in an exaggerated manner. As the tine 10a deflects upwardly in response to striking thereof, the portion of the hammer felt 36a adjacent point 74 comes into engagement with the tine and damps out the higher harmonics as is desired. The result is that the bass notes are relatively pure and sonorous.

Specific example, and definition of terms There will next be given, for purposes of illustration and not limitation, a specific example of one piano action constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIGURE 9, the foot portion 34a of the hammer may be constructed relative to a vertical base line 76. Two radii 77 and 78 are drawn from the same point (not shown) on such base line 76, each such radius being approximately 7 /3 inches long. The lines 77 and 78 are radii of an imaginary circle of which surface region 69, between points B and C, is an arc. The angle between radius 77 and base line 76 is 10 degrees, wheras the angle between radius 78 and base line 76 is 15 degrees.

Pivot axis 37 is formed on radius 78 a pretedermined distance from point C. for example of an inch. Such distance may be varied somewhat in order to regulate the amount of frictional or braking action between surface region 70 and the upper surface 63 of hardwood insert 64.

Surface region 70 may be drawn from a center point 80 which lies on radius 78, point 80 being substantially farther, illustrated as a number of times farther, from surface region 70' than is pivot axis 37. For example, center 80 may be 1 /6 inch from region 70. Stated otherwise, region 70 is a curve about center 80, the radius being 1 /6 inch. Region 70 is an inside tangent to region 69 at point C, as described above. The distance between point C and point D may be approximately inch.

Region 68 is an arc of a circle about a center 82 which lies on radius 77 and is 1 /6 inches from point B. Points A and B may be separated by approximately 1 inch, the region 69 being tangential to region 68 at point B. Region 67 may be a straight-line tangent to region 68 at point A, the angle between region 67 and base line 76 being degrees.

The distance from key fulcrum 26 (FIGURE 7) to the outer end of the piano key may be 8 /2 inches, whereas the distance to the inner end thereof (beneath region 70, FIGURE 9) may be 6 inches. The distance between the key fulcrum and point A (FIGURE 9) may be 4% inches. The thickness of foot 34a may be inch.

The over-all length of the hammer may be on the order of 4% inches, of which approximately 2 inches is taken up by the foot portion 34a, 1 /2 inches by the shank 33a and inch by the head 32a.

In the appended claims, terms such as actuated means, employed relative to the hammer foot portion 34a or its equivalent, denote regions such as 68 .and 69 (FIG- URE 9) which are engaged by the key surfaces 63 upon striking of the key by the pianist. Term-s such as stop and brake means are employed to denote portions of the hammer adjacent point C, particularly the region 70 which (when backed up by the fixed pivot .axis 37) perform the highly important stop and braking functions described in detail throughout this specification. The present paragraph is intended to aid in comparing the present claims to the specification, and is not to be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner. Instead, the claims are to be construed as covering any constructions which fall within the terms thereof.

Various embodiments of the present invention, in addition to what has been illustrated and described in detail, may be employed without departing from the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A musical instrument of the piano type, which comprises support means, a vibratory tone generator mounted on said support means, an elongated piano key, fulcrum means on said support means and operably associated with an intermediate part of said key to mount said key for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis, said fulcrum means dividing said key into an outer portion adapted to be struck by a pianist and an inner portion adapted to move upwardly upon striking of said outer portion, a hammer having a first portion adapted to strike said tone generator to set the same into vibration, said hammer also having a second portion, and means to pivotally connect said hammer to said support means for pivotal movement of said hammer about a second horizon axis generally parallel to said first horizontal axis, said second horizontal axis being so located that said second portion of said hammer is operably engaged by said inner portion of said key, said second hammer portion and said inner key portion being shaped to effect pivotal movement of said first hammer portion into engagement with said tone generator upon said upward movement of said inner key portion, said second hammer portion and inner key portion being so shaped relative to each other that upon said upward movement of said inner key portion the distance between said second horizontal axis and engaged areas of said second hammer portion and inner key portion becomes progressively smaller only until said first hammer portion is spaced a predetermined small escapement distance from said tone generator, said second hammer portion and inner key portion also being so shaped relative to each other that said distance between said second horizontal axis and engaged areas of said second hammer portion and inner key portion does not diminish substantially during movement of said first hammer portion through said escapement distance into engagement with said tone generator whereby a braking action occurs at said engaged areas during movement of said first hammer portion in both directions through said predetermined small distance.

2. A musical instrument of the piano type, which comprises support means, a vibratory tone generator mounted on said support means, an elongated piano key, fulcrum means on said support means and operably associated with an intermediate part of said key to mount said key for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis, said fulcrum means dividing said key into an outer portion adapted to be struck by a pianist and an inner portion adapted to move upwardly upon striking of said outer portion, a hammer having a first portion adapted to strike said tone generator to set the same into vibration, said hammer also having a second portion, and means to pivotally connect said hammer to said support means for pivotal movement of said hammer about a second horizontal axis generally parallel to said first horizontal axis, said second horizontal axis being so located that said second portion of said hammer is operably engaged by said inner portion of said key, said second hammer portion and said inner key portion being shaped to effect pivotal movement of said first hammer portion into engagement with said tone generator upon said upward movement of said inner key portion, said second hammer portion and inner key portion being so shaped relative to each other that upon said upward movement of said inner key portion the distance between said second horizontal axis and engaged areas of said second hammer portion and inner key portion becomes progressively smaller only until said first hammer portion is spaced a predetermined small distance from said tone generator, said second hammer portion and inner key portion further being so shaped relative to each other that during movement of said first hammer portion through at least a major part of said predetermined small distance, during travel of said first hammer portion toward said tone generator, the distance between said second horizontal axis and engaged areas of said second hammer portion and inner key portion becomes progressively greater.

3. A musical instrument of the piano type, which comprises support means, a vibratory tone generator mounted on said support means, an elongated piano key, fulcrum means on said support means and operably associated with an intermediate part of said key to mount said key for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis, said fulcrum means dividing said key into an outer portion adapted to be struck by a pianist and an inner portion adapted to move upwardly upon striking of said outer portion, a hammer having a first portion adapted to strike said tone generator to set the same in vibration, said hammer also having a second portion, and means to pivotally connect said hammer to said support means for pivotal movement of said hammer about a second horizontal axis generally parallel to said first horizontal axis, said second horizontal axis being so located that said second portion of said hammer is operably engaged by said inner portion of said key, said second hammer portion and said inner key portion being shaped to effect pivotal movement of said first hammer portion into engagement with said tone generator upon said upward movement of said inner key portion, said second hammer portion and inner key portion b'eing so shaped relative to each other that upon said upward movement of said inner key portion the distance between said second horizontal axis and engaged areas of said second hammer portion and inner key portion be comes progressively smaller only until said first hammer portion is spaced a predetermined small escapement distance from said tone generator, said second hammer portion and inner key portion also being so shaped relative to each other that said distance between said second horizontal axis and engaged areas of said second hammer portion and inner key portion does not diminish substantially during movement of said first hammer portion through said escapement distance into engagement with said tone generator whereby a braking action occurs at said engaged areas during movement of said first hammer portion in both directions through said predetermined small distance, said support means and other elements of said musical instrument adjacent said key being devoid of primary stop means excepting said second hammer portion, whereby said inner key portion remains in operative engagement with said second hammer portion during the entire stroke of said first hammer portion into engagement with said tone generator.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which said second horizontal axis is in the direct path of said inner key portion during upward movement thereof, whereby said means to pivotally connect said hammer to said support means serves to back up said second hammer portion in serving as the primary stop means for said key.

5. A musical instrument of the piano type, comprising support means, an elongated piano key, fulcrum means to mount said key on said support means for movement about a first horizontal axis, said fulcrum means dividing said key into an outer portion adapted to be struck by a pianist and an inner portion adapted to actuate a harnmer, a hammer having a head and a foot, means to pivotally connect said foot to said support means for pivotal movement of said hammer about a second horizontal axis generally parallel to said first axis, said hammer being disposed above and in substantially the same plane as said inner key portion, said second axis being disposed above said inner key portion whereby said pivotal connector means serves together with said foot as the primary stop limiting upward movement of said inner key portion, and a vibrating tone generator mounted on said support means and disposed for engagement by said head, said foot and said inner key portion having a first set of cooperating surface regions adapted upon initial striking of said outer key portion to effect pivotal movement of said head from the rest position thereof to a point of predetermined small escapement distance from said tone generator, said foot and said inner key portion also having a second set of cooperating surface regions shaped to brake movement of said head during travel thereof through said escapement distance to said tone generator and thence back to said point.

6. A musical instrument of the piano type, comprising support means, an elongated piano key, fulcrum means to mount said key on said support means for movement about a first horizontal axis, said fulcrum means dividing said key into an outer portion adapted to be struck by a pianist and an inner portion adapted to actuate a hammer, a hammer having a head and a foot, means to pivotally connect said foot to said support means for pivotal movement of said hammer about a second horizontal axis generally parallel to said first axis, said hammer being disposed above and in substantially the same plane as said inner key portion, and a vibrating tone generator mounted on said support means and disposed for engagement by said head, said foot and said inner key portion having a first set of cooperating surface regions adapted upon initial striking of said outer key portion to effect pivotal movement of said head from the rest position thereof to a point a predetermined small escapement distance from said tone generator, said foot and said inner key portion also having a second set of cooperating surface regions adapted to brake movement of said head during travel thereof through said escapement distance to said tone generator and thence back to said point, said second set of cooperating surface regions being shaped to maintain said head at said point in response to continued downward pressing on said outer key portion.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 6, in which said second axis is disposed directly above said inner key portion whereby said pivotal connector means serves together with said foot as the primary stop limiting upward movement of said inner key portion, said support means being devoid of primary stop means for said key.

8. The invention as claimed in claim 6, in which said first set of cooperating surface regions is so shaped that during pivoting of said head from rest position to said point the distance between said second axis and engaged areas of said surface regions becomes progressively smaller, and in which said second set of cooperating surface regions is so shaped that during pivoting of said head from said point to said tone generator the distance between said second axis and engaged areas of said surface regions becomes progressively greater, corresponding ones of the surface regions in said first and second sets thereof being immediately adjacent and substantially in line with each other.

9. A musical instrument of the piano type, comprising support means, an elongated piano key, fulcrum means to mount said key on said support means for movement about a first horizontal axis, said fulcrum means dividing said key into an outer portion adapted to be struck by a pianist and an inner portion adapted to actuate a hammer, said inner portion having an upper plane actuating surface, a hammer having a head and a foot, means to pivotally connect said foot to said support means for pivotal movement of said hammer about a second horizontal axis generally parallel to said first axis, and a vibratory tone generator mounted on said support means and disposed for engagement by said head, said foot having a downwardly-convex actuated surface engaged by said plane key surface to effect upward pivotal movement of said hammer upon striking of said outer key portion, the relationship being such that the radius distance between said second horizontal axis and the point of engagement between said plane key surface and said actuated surface progressively decreases following striking of said outer key portion, said foot also having a brake surface adapted to brake movement of said hammer during travel of said head thereof from a point spaced a predetermined escapement distance from said tone generator into engagement with said tone generator.

10. The invention as claimed in claim 9, in which said brake surface is immediately adjacent said actuated surface and is so shaped that during said travel of said hammer through said escapement distance toward said tone generator the distance between said second horizontal axis and engaged points of said brake surface and said plane surface becomes progressively greater.

11. The invention as claimed in claim- 9, in which said brake surface is a downwardly-convex surface having a radius substantially greater than the distance between said brake surface and said second horizontal axis.

12. The invention as claimed in claim 9, in which said actuated surface has a relatively steeply-curved region which is engaged by said plane surface immediately upon striking of said piano key, said actuated surface also having a relatively shallow curved section tangential to said steeply-curved region and which is engaged by said plane surface following engagement thereof with said steeply-curved region, and in which said brake surface is tangential to said shallow curved section at a second predetermined point and is relatively steeplycurved about a radius which is substantially greater than the distance between said brake surface and said second horizontal axis.

13. The invention as claimed in claim 12, in which said brake surface lies between a straight line which is tangent to said shallow curved section at said second predetermined point and a circle having said second axis as its center and the distance from said second axis to said second predetermined point as its radius.

14. The invention as claimed in claim 9, in which said second horizontal axis is disposed directly above said inner key portion whereby said pivotal connector means serves together with said foot as the primary stop limiting upward movement of said inner key portion, said support means and other regions of said instrument other than said foot being devoid of primary stop means.

15. In a piano or the like, an elongated generally horizontal key having an exposed forward portion adapted to be struck and thereby actuated downwardly by a pianist, said key also having a rear portion, fulcrum means disposed between said forward and rear key portions to pivotally support said key for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, and hammer means pivotally supported above said rear key portion for pivotal movement into engagement with a tone-generating means to set the same into vibration, said hammer means including actuated means engaged by said rear key portion to effect said pivotal movement of said ham mer means into engagement with said tone-generating means upon upward pivotal movement of said rear key portion due to said striking of said forward key portion, said hammer means further including stop means to limit said upward pivotal movement of said rear key portion.

16. In a piano or the like, an elongated generally horizontal key having an exposed forward portion adapted to be struck and thereby actuated downwardly by a pianist, said key also having a rear portion, fulcrum means disposed between said forward and rear key portions to pivotally support said key for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, means to limit the downward pivotal movement of said rear key portion about said axis, and hammer means pivotally supported above said rear key portion for pivotal movement into engagement with a tone-generating means to set the same into vibration, said hammer means including actuated means engaged by said rear key portion to effect said pivotal movement of said hammer means into engagement with said tone-generating means upon upward pivotal movement of said rear key portion due to said striking of said forward key portion, said hammer means further including combination stop and brake means to limit said upward pivot l movement of said rear key portion and to prevent said hammer means from rebounding against said tone-generating means and striking the same twice for a single striking of said forward key portion, said actuated means and said combination stop and brake means being fixedly related to each other.

17. In a piano or the like, an elongated generally horizontal key having an exposed forward portion adapted to be struck by a pianist, said key also having a rear portion, fulcrum means disposed between said forward and rear key portions to pivotally support said key for pivotal movement thereof about a horizontal axis, means to limit the downward pivotal movement of said rear key portion about said axis, tone-generator means, a hammer head having a first position remote from said tonegenerator means and a second position in engagement With said tone-generator means to set the same into vibration, said hammer head also having a third position intermediate said first and second positions, means to form a fixed pivot axis for said hammer head, actuating and back-check means responsive to upward pivotal movement of said rear key portion due to striking and holding of said forward key portion to effect pivotal movement of said hammer head about said fixed pivot axis from said first position to said second position to said third position and to hold said hammer head at said third position, and stop means on said actuating and back-check means to prevent substantial upward pivotal movement of said rear key portion when said hammer head is in said second and third positions and in positions between said second and third positions.

18. The invention as claimed in claim 1'7, in which said actuating and back-check means is fixedly connected to said hammer head and pivotally associated with said fixed pivot axis.

19. The invention as claimed in claim 17, in which all portions of said actuating and back-check means and said stop means are at all times fixedly and non-rotatably associated with each other, and are all pivotally associated with said fixed pivot axis.

20. In a piano action, an elongated generally horizontal key having a forward portion adapted to be struck by a pianist, fulcrum means to pivotally support said key for pivotal movement thereof in a vertical plane, means to form a fixed pivot element, hammer means pivotally mounted on said fixed pivot element for pivotal movement in a vertical plane between a rest position and an actuated position adjacent a tone generator, and means on said hammer means to prevent pivotal movement of said key in response to downward pressing on said forward portion when said hammer means is in said actuated position.

21. In a piano or the like, an elongated generally horizontal key having a forward portion adapted to be struck by a pianist, said key also having a rear portion, fulcrum means disposed between said forward and rear key portions to pivotally support said key for pivotal movement thereof in a vertical plane, means to limit the downward pivotal movement of said rear key portion, means to form a fixed horizontal hammer-pivot element above said rear key portion, a tone generator, hammer means pivotally mounted on said hammer-pivot element above said rear key portion for pivotal movement in a vertical plane between a rest position and an actuated position adjacent said tone generator, and means on said hammer means to prevent upward pivotal movement of said rear key portion when said hammer means is in said actuated position, said last-named means com-prising means interposed between said rear key portion and said hammerpivot element whereby the upward thrust of said rear key portion is transmitted to said hammer-pivot element and absorbed thereby.

22. In a piano action, an elongated generally horizontal key having a forward portion adapted to be struck by a pianist, said key also having a rear portion, fulcrum means disposed between said forward and rear key portions to pivotally support said key for pivotal movement thereof in a vertical plane, hammer means pivotally mounted above said rear key portion for pivotal movement about a fixed horizontal axis into engagement with a tone-generating vibrator, said hammer means having a curved surface thereon engaged by said rear key portion to effect said pivoting of said hammer means upon upward movement of said rear key portion, said hammer means also having a combination brake and stop surface generally tangential to said curved surface and engaged by said rear key portion when said hammer means is adjacent said tone-generating vibrator but out of engagement therewith, said brake and stop surface serving to limit upward movement of said rear key portion, said brake and stop surface further serving in cooperation with said rear key portion and when said forward key portion is held down to prevent double striking of said hammer means against said tone-generating vibrator for a single striking of said forward portion.

23. The invention as claimed in claim 22, in which said axis for said hammer means is disposed more remote from said front key portion than in said brake and stop surface, in which said brake and stop surface is disposed more remote from said front key portion than is said curved surface, and in which said brake and stop surface is directly between a part of said rear key portion and said axis.

24. In a piano or the like, an elongated generally horizontal key having a forward portion adapted to be struck by a pianist, said key also having a rear portion the upper surface of which is generally horizontal, fulcrum means disposed between said forward and rear key portions to pivotally support said key for pivotal movement thereof in a vertical plane, mean-s to limit the downward pivotal movement of said rear key portion, a fixed support, hammer means disposed above said rear key portion, a tone-generating vibrator, and means to pivotally connect said hammer means to said fixed support for pivotal movement about a predetermined horizontal hammer axis into engagement with said tone-generating vibrator, said hammer means having a curved surface thereon engaged by said upper surface of said rear key portion to effect said pivoting of said hammer means upon up- Ward movement of said rear key portion, said hammer means also having a combination brake and stop surface generally tangential to said curved surface and engaged flatw-ise by said upper surface of said rear key portion when said hammer means is adjacent said tonegenerating vibrator but out of engagement therewith, said brake and stop surface serving to limit upward movement of said rear key portion, said brake and stop surface further serving in cooperation with said rear key portion and when said forward key portion is held down to prevent rebound of said hammer means against said tonegenerating vibrator.

25. The invention as claimed in claim 24, in which frictional and sound-deadening means are provided on said upper surface of said rear key portion.

26. A piano action, which comprises a generally horizontal piano key having a forward portion and a rear portion, fulcrum means disposed intermediate said forward and rear portions to pivotally mount said piano key for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis, said rear portion of said piano key having a plane upper surface, means to form a fixed horizontal hammer axis a substantial distance above said plane surface and parallel to said piano key axis, and hammer means having a head adapted to engage a vibrating element to set the same in-to vibration, said hammer means also having a foot fixedly connected to said head and pivotally connected to said fixed hammer axis whereby said hammer head may pivot in the vertical plane containing said key, said foot of said hammer means being disposed above said plane surface and between said hammer axis and said forward key portion, said foot having a cam portion disposed relatively remote from said hammer axis and relatively adjacent said forward key portion, the forward end of said cam portion being engaged with said plane surface when said key is at rest and portions of said cam surface progressively nearer said hammer axis being engaged by said plane surface when said rear key portion is elevated due to downward striking of said forward key portion by a pianist, said foot further having a surface tangential to said cam portion at the end thereof nearest said hammer axis, said tangential surface being shaped to be in generally flatwise engagement with said plane surface when said hammer means is in an actuated position assumed when said forward key position is held down by the pianist.

27. A musical instrument of the type wherein a tine or reed is actuated by a piano action, which comprises a relatively resilient tine having one end fixedly mounted in a support and the other end free to vibrate, a piano action having a key and a hammer operatively associated with said key, said hammer having a relatively straight felt and being so related to said tine that the portion of said felt relatively remote from said one end of said tine comes into engagement with said tine prior to engagement of other portions of said felt therewith, the angle between said felt and said tine being relatively slight whereby upon deflection of said tine following initial engagement of said point therewith asubstantial length of said felt comes into engagement with said tine to damp out the higher harmonics.

28. The invention as claimed in claim 27, in which said felt is so shaped that the angle between said felt and said tine when said point initially engages said tine is only a few degrees.

29. A musical instrument of the piano type, which comprises support means, a vibratory tone generator mounted on said support means, a piano key having a portion adapted to be struck by a pianist, an inner element operatively associated with said key portion and adapted to move upwardly in response to striking of said key portion, a hammer having a first portion adapted to strike said tone generator to set the same into vibration, said hammer also having a second portion, and means to pivotally connect said hammer to said support means for pivotal movement of said hammer about a horizontal axis, said axis being so located that said second portion of said hammer is operably engaged by said inner element, said second hammer portion and said inner element being shaped to effect pivotal movement of said first hammer portion into engagement with said tone generator in response to said upward movement of said inner element, said second hammer portion and inner element being so shaped relative to each other that upon said upward movement of said inner element from rest position the distance between said axis and engaged areas of said second hammer portion and inner element becomes progressively smaller until said first hammer portion is spaced a short distance from said tone generator, said second hammer portion and inner element also being so shaped relative to each other that the distance between said axis and engaged areas of said second hammer portion and inner element does not become smaller during movement of said first hammer portion through said short distance toward said tone generator and into engagement therewith, whereby a braking action occurs at said engaged areas during movement of said firs-t hammer portion through said short distance.

30. A musical instrument of the piano type, which comprises support means, a vibratory tone generator mounted on said support means, a piano key having a portion adapted to be struck by a pianist, an inner element operatively associated with said key portion and adapted to move upwardly in response to striking of said key portion, the relationship being such that for each position of said key portion during downward movement after striking thereof there is a corresponding predetermined position of said inner element, a hammer having 7 a first portion adapted to strike said tone generator to set the same into vibration, said hammer also having a second portion, and means to pivotally oonnect said hammer to said support means for pivotal movement of said ham-mer about a horizontal axis, said axis being so located that said second portion of said hammer is operably engaged by said inner element, said second hammer portion and said inner element being shaped to effect pivotal movement of said first hammer portion into engagement with said tone generator in response to said upward movement of said inner element, said second hammer portion and inner element being so shaped relative to each other that upon said upward movement of said inner element the distance between said axis and engaged areas of said second hammer portion and inner element becomes progressively smaller only until said first hammer portion is spaced a predetermined small distance from said tone generator, said second ham-mer portion and inner element further being so shaped relative to each other that during movement of said first hammer portion through at least a major part of said predetermined small distance, during travel of said first hammer portion toward said tone generator, the distance between said axis and engaged areas of said second hammer portion and inner element becomes progressively greater, said support means and other elements of said musical instrument adjacent said key being devoid of primary stop means excepting said second hammer portion, whereby said inner element remains in operative engagement with said second hammer portion during the entire stroke of said first hammer portion into engagement with said tone generator.

31. A musical instrument of the piano type, comprising support means, a piano key having a portion adapted to be struck by a pianist, an inner element operatively associated with said key portion and adapted to move upwardly in response to striking of said key portion, hammer means having a head portion and a foot portion, means to pivotally connect said foot portion to said support means :for pivotal movement of said hammer means about a horizontal axis, and a vibrating tone generator mounted on said support means and disposed for engagement by said head portion, said foot portion and said inner element having a first set of cooperating surface regions adapted in response to striking of said key portion to effect pivotal movement of said head portion from the rest position thereof into engagement with said tone generator, said foot portion and said inner element also having a second set of cooperating surface regions shaped to maintain said head portion at a point spaced a predetermined escapement distance from said tone generator in response to continued downward pressing on said key portion.

32. A musical instrument of the piano type, comprising support means, a piano key having a portion adapted to be struck by a pianist, an inner element operatively associated with said key for upward movement in response to striking of said key portion, said inner element having an upper actuating surface, a hammer having a head and a foot, means to pivotally connect said foot to said support means for pivotal movement of said hammer about a horizontal axis, and a vibratory tone generator mounted on said support means and disposed for engagement by said head, said foot having an actuated surface engaged by said upper actuating surface to effect upward pivotal movement of said hammer upon striking of said key portion, the relationship being such that the radius distance between said axis and the point of engagement between said upper actuating surface and said actuated surface progressively decreases following striking of said key portion, said foot also having a brake surface adapted to brake movement of said hammer during travel of said head thereof from a point spaced a predetermined escapement distance from said tone generator into engagement with said tone generator.

33. In a piano or the like, a piano key having an exposed portion adapted to be struck and thereby actuated downwardly by a pianist, an inner element operatively associated with said key for movement in response to said striking of said key portion, and hammer means movably mounted adjacent said inner element for actuation thereby into engagement with a vibratory tone-generating means to set the same into vibration, said hammer means including actuated means engaged by said inner element to effect movement of said hammer means into engagement with said tone-generating means in response to said movement of said inner element due to said striking of said key portion, said hammer means further including primary stop means to limit said movement of said inner element.

34. In a piano or the like, a piano key having a portion adapted to be struck and thereby actuated down- Wardly by a pianist, an inner element operatively associated with said key portion for movement in response to said striking thereof, and hammer means supported adjacent said inuer element [for movement into engagement with a tone-generating means to set the same into vibration, said hammer means including actuated means engaged by said inner element to effect said movement of said hammer means into engagement with said tone-generating means in response to said movement of said inner element due to said striking of said key portion, said hammer means further including combination stop and brake means to limit said movement of said inner element and to prevent said hammer means from rebounding against said tone-generating means and striking the same twice for a single striking of said key portion.

35. In a piano action, a piano key having a portion adapted to be struck by a pianist, an inner element operatively associated with said key for upward movement in response to said striking of said key portion, the relationship 'between said key portion and said inner element being such that stopping of upward movement of said inner element effects corresponding stopping of downward movement of said key portion, means to form a fixed pivot element, hammer means pivotally mounted on said fixed pivot element for pivotal movement between a rest position and an actuated position adjacent a tone generator, and means on said hammer means and cooperating With said fixed pivot element to prevent upward movement of said inner element in response to downward pressing on said key portion when said hammer means is in said actuated position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,884,812 10/1932 Neill 84-237 3,096,675 7/1963 Graves 84237 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT OF THE PIANO TYPE, WHICH COMPRISES SUPPORT MEANS, A VIBRATORY TONE GENERATOR MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, AN ELONGATED PIANO KEY, FULCRUM MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND OPERABLY ASSOCIATED WITH AN INTERMEDIATE PART OF SAID KEY TO MOUNT SAID KEY FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A FIRST HORIZONTAL AXIS, SAID FULCRUM MEANS DIVIDING SAID KEY INTO AN OUTER PORTION ADAPTED TO BE STRUCK BY A PIANIST AND AN INNER PORTION ADAPTED TO MOVE UPWARDLY UPON STRIKING OF SAID OUTER PORTION, A HAMMER HAVING A FIRST PORTION ADAPTED TO STRIKE SAID TONE GENERATOR OR TO SET THE SAME INTO VIBRATION, SAID HAMMER ALSO HAVING A SECOND PORTION, AND MEANS TO PIVOTALLY CONNECT SAID HAMMER TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID HAMMER ABOUT A SECOND HORIZON AXIS GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST HORIZONTAL AXIS, SAID SECOND HORIZONTAL AXIS BEING SO LOCATED THAT SAID SECINNER PORTION OF SAID KEY, SAID SECOND HAMMER PORTION INNER PORTION OF SAID KEY, SAID SECOND HAMMER PORTION AND SAID INNER KEY PORTION BEING SHAPED TO EFFECT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST HAMMER PORTION INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TONE GENERATOR UPON SAID UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID INNER KEY PORTION, SAID SECOND HAMMER PORTION AND INNER KEY PORTION BEING SO SHAPED RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER THAT UPON SAID UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID INNER KEY PORTION THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID SECOND HORIZONTAL AXIS AND ENGAGED AREAS OF SAID SECOND HAMMER PORTION AND INNER 